PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Chuck Powers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nikolai Korelin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Powers
vs
Korelin

188 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
23
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Chuck Powers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Nikolai Korelin!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Johanna Lukiainen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Powers misses the jab.
Powers fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Powers rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Korelin moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Korelin shoots in looking for a takedown. Powers tries to sprawl out of it but Korelin keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Powers manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Chuck Powers seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Korelin lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Korelin takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Korelin misses with a takedown attempt - Powers sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Korelin misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Korelin looks to land a combination but Powers avoids it well.
Powers swinging wildly here.
Korelin throws a head kick but Powers moves out of range.
Powers misses with a double jab
and Powers takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Powers tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Powers throws a left and a right that both miss
and Korelin counters with a nice body kick.
Korelin throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Powers takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Powers avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Powers gets a clinch.
Korelin tries a body shot but Powers blocks it.
Powers wants to get back to striking at distance but Korelin won't allow it.
Korelin wants a takedown but no success here.
Chuck Powers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nikolai Korelin.
Korelin trying to stall but Powers improves his position.
Powers can't break the clinch.

Powers breaks the clinch.
Korelin tries for a takedown but Powers sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Powers scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Korelin trying to control here.
Korelin might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Powers kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Powers takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Korelin tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Powers is looking to stall here but Korelin recovers full guard.
Korelin can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Powers controls the pace.
Powers is breathing heavily.
Korelin has a closed guard, preventing Powers from standing up.
Korelin wants to sweep here but Powers controlling him for the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Korelin is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Powers is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Korelin tries to pass to full mount but Powers defends it.
Korelin drops an elbow to the side of Powers's head.
Korelin trying to control from half guard but Powers is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Korelin moves nicely into side control.
Korelin prevents Powers from escaping the position.
Korelin misses with the ground and pound.
Powers is trying to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Nikolai Korelin will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Korelin doesn't manage to clinch there - Powers circles away.
Korelin misses with a takedown attempt
letting Powers counter with a right hand.
Korelin shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Powers as he jumps to the side.
Powers looks to land a combination but Korelin avoids it well.
No joy there for Powers, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Korelin avoids the head kick by Powers.
Korelin shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Powers counters with a nice uppercut.
Chuck Powers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nikolai Korelin.
Powers misses with a double jab.
Powers swinging wildly here.
Powers thows a leg kick but Korelin checks it
and Korelin counters with a low kick, right behind Powers 's knee.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Korelin fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Powers fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Korelin, pushing him back against the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Korelin drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Powers gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Powers as Korelin tries to tie him up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Korelin tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Korelin dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Korelin has had enough of the clinch but Powers keeps him there for the moment.
Powers wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Korelin has him pressed against the cage.

Powers breaks from the clinch.
Korelin changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Powers tries to avoid it but Korelin manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Powers to the ground. Powers escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Powers throws a combination that misses
and Korelin counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Korelin misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Korelin gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Powers.
Powers throws a combination that misses

and Korelin moves into the clinch.
Korelin fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Korelin looking for a takedown.

Powers breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Korelin fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Powers avoids it really well and circles away.
Korelin tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Powers manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Powers throws a big shot that misses.
Powers lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Korelin circles away quickly and effectively.
Korelin tries to clinch there but Powers circles away.
Korelin stuns Powers with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Korelin throws a one two combo.
Powers misses with a double jab

and Korelin counters by clinching up.
Powers jumps guard but Korelin stands there with Powers around his waist. Powers gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Korelin fails to land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Korelin wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Powers breaks the clinch.
Korelin lands with a cross.
Powers is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Korelin tries for a takedown but Powers circles away easily

and Powers counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Powers.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Korelin tries to score a body lock takedown but Powers shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Korelin changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Powers fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Powers fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Korelin sprawls well initially but Powers persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Powers slows the pace down in half guard.
Powers knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Korelin on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Korelin is looking to get back to full guard here but Powers has managed to pass to side control instead.
Powers controlling the position easily from mount.
Powers avoids the attempt from Korelin to control.
Korelin sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Korelin gets back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chuck Powers dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Powers will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Korelin displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Powers.
Powers misses the jab.
A left lands for Korelin.
Korelin throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Powers.
Korelin connects with a high kick.
Korelin throws a series of punches but Powers avoids them all with ease.
Korelin shoots in and drives through. Powers sprawls well.

Powers shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Korelin napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Powers wants to control for a moment but Korelin uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Powers is thwarting Korelin's attempts to control the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Powers prevents Korelin from improving his position.
Powers will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Korelin punching from the bottom.

Korelin looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Powers performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Korelin is staying active underneath Powers, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Powers trying to pass the guard but Korelin defending well.
Powers wants to take a breather but Korelin is having none of it.
Powers tries to stand but can't do so whilst Korelin controls his leg.
Korelin avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Powers.

We're going to have a standup here because Chuck Powers wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Powers lands a jab-cross combination.
Korelin shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Powers but Powers pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Powers tries to score with a low kick but Korelin moves his leg out of the way.
Powers takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Powers misses with a looping left.
Korelin throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Powers's waist but Powers gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Korelin off to one side.
Chuck Powers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nikolai Korelin.
Korelin steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Powers.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Korelin shoots and misses
and Powers counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Korelin tries to clinch but Powers moves out of range.
Korelin shoots in for a takedown but Powers shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Korelin wants to clinch.
Powers feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Korelin's calf.
Korelin shoots in for a double leg but Powers sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Powers closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Powers scoring well with a low kick there.
Powers looks to score with a jab to the body but Korelin is just out of range.
Powers cracks a nice hook into Korelin's ribs.
Korelin goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Powers throws a hook but Korelin blocks it.
Korelin connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Korelin fails to land with a series of punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Powers rushes Korelin and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Powers has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Korelin avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Korelin is looking to control Powers's arms but Powers gets an underhook and turns him. Now Korelin has his back to the cage.
Korelin working hard to break the clinch.

Powers manages to break the clinch.
Korelin fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Powers listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Powers misses with a combination
and Korelin counters with a straight right hand.
Powers misses the shot to the body.
Korelin shoots in and drives through. Powers sprawls well.
Korelin looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Powers drives through with a takedown into guard.
Korelin wants to sweep here but Powers controlling him for the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chuck Powers showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Powers has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chuck Powers!